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Residents' parking scheme announced for part of south Belfast after ten year campaign

Brid Ruddy has said residents are "absolutely delighted" at the announcement. Picture by Hugh Russell
Brid Ruddy has said residents are "absolutely delighted" at the announcement. Picture by Hugh Russell Brid Ruddy has said residents are "absolutely delighted" at the announcement. Picture by Hugh Russell

RESIDENTS' parking has been announced for part of south Belfast after a ten year campaign, in what is hoped will be the first successful scheme of its kind in the north.

The scheme will take in several streets around the College Park Avenue and Rugby Road area of the city close to Queen's University.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard said that 117 spaces for residents and a further 127 pay and display spots would be available by next summer, provided further consultations are successful.

Brid Ruddy, chair of College Park Residents Association, said residents were "absolutely delighted" at the news.

"We have been lobbying for this for ten years and have had excellent support from MLAs. Other groups have been looking for such schemes and for their sake as well as our own we hope it will work and we think it will."

The minister said that he was continuing to look at future potential schemes after announcing a pilot for Rossville Street in Derry earlier this year.

DUP MLA Christopher Stalford welcomed the move but called for its expansion across south Belfast.

"Parts of south Belfast have been crying out for a residents' parking scheme to help with the daily plague of commuters using their area as a car park."

Conor Doyle, Secretary of Lower Malone Residents' Association, said residents there were "disappointed" that a scheme would not be progressing at present due to objections.

"Schemes can't be held up by a relatively small number of objections, which has been the case up to now."

Last month The Irish News reported that there were no plans to change criteria which can see one objection cause a scheme to be stalled, even if a majority of residents are in favour.